…mid-list writers who made a profit for the publisher kept going. Now, there is a push to publish only those mysteries which have the potential to make a lot of money. Fortunately, I have loyal readers, a great agent, critical success and good luck with senior editors. I am far from a bestselling mystery writer. 

Kaminsky: I would be pleased if one of my children became a writer, but I wouldn't push them toward it. My two oldest children (sons) do not look as if they will be seriously writing. My two youngest (daughters) are both possibilities, especially my older daughter who is now 20 and has won some awards and had several stories published. She, however, is not a mystery writer or even a mystery fan. 

Crescent Blues: Have there been or do you think there will be any movies made from your other series? If so, how well satisfied have you been with the treatments? If not,  would you be interested in having a movie made or do you prefer to keep your  characters on the printed page?   

Kaminsky: Three movies have been made from my novels. When the Dark Man Calls was filmed in France as FM starring Catherine Deneuve. It was later filmed for U.S.A. Mystery Movies as When A Dark Man Calls starring Joan Van Ark. Exercise in Terror was filmed as Hidden Fears and starred Meg Foster and Frederick Forrest. I wrote the screenplay for that one. 

I liked the U.S.A. movie best of the three including the one I wrote. It is unlikely that I would turn down any reasonable offer to make a movie from any of my books. I am not independently wealthy, and even if I were, I would like to see what was done with my work. 

Crescent Blues: Is there anything you would change if you were creating one of your series characters all over again?   

Kaminsky: I don't think I would change any of my characters if I were to do it all over again. They are family now. I did, however, start a novel featuring a young Mexican-American private detective in contemporary Chicago. I wrote more than 100 pages and stopped. He wasn't coming alive for me. Maybe I'll try him again some time. I want to know more about his family and his future. 

Crescent Blues: Do you find it hard or easy to switch back and forth from one series to  another?   

Kaminsky: I find it very easy to switch back and forth between series. In fact, I find it invigorating to do so: to change voices, styles. I never confuse my characters. They are alive to me, and Toby is not Abe and Porfiry is not Rockford and so on. 

Crescent Blues: How does scriptwriting compare with writing novels -- harder, easier? More or less fun?  

Kaminsky: For me scriptwriting is far, far easier than writing novels. It is great fun to write the treatment and first draft of a screenplay. It is only after the first draft is done and I have to deal with producers that it sometimes gets difficult. Sometimes, not always. 

Crescent Blues: When I took pictures of you and your daughter at Bouchercon, I heard you mention the name "Double Tiger." What is the Double Tiger?   

Kaminsky: Double Tiger is the corporation for which I write. My wife is the president. I am an employee. She was a student of Chinese in college. Her sign is the relatively rare Double Tiger. We even have a Double Tiger banner on the wall of our family room. 

Donna Andrews